Vacuum cleaner attachment for shag rugs

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner attachment for use in cleaning shag type rugs or carpets includes two pivoted shafts from each of which a series of comblike rods extend. When the attachment is moved in one direction, one of such series produces a combing action, and the other series is displaced by the rug or carpet to a cleaning position, and when the attachment is moved in the opposite direction, said one series is cleaned and said other series produces a combing action.

nite States aten i191 [75] Inventor: Achille-J. Caporaso, San Dimas,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Wayne L. McNulty, Monrovia,-

Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 187,747

[52] US. Cl. 15/369, 15/402 [51] Int. Cl A471 9/06 [58] Field of Search 15/367, 368, 369, 371-373, 15/402 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,176 5/1917 Bishop 15/369 'lCaporaso at. 12, 1974 VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT FOR 3,685,089 8/1972 Lagerstrom 15/371 x SHAG RUGS 1,191,999 7/1916 Roever 15/369 Primary ExaminerHarvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Attorney, Agent, or FirmLyon & Lyon [57] ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner attachment for use in cleaning shag type rugs or carpets includes two pivoted shafts from each of which a series of comblike rods extend. When the attachment is moved in one direction, one of such series produces a combing action, and the other series is displaced by the rug or carpet to a cleaning position, and when the attachment is moved in the opposite direction, said one series is cleaned and said other series produces a combing action.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARI 2 I974 INVENTOR ACH/ J CA FOE/450 A TTOE/WEVS VACUUM CLEANER ATTACHMENT FOR SHAG lRlUGS The present invention relates to improved vacuum cleaner attachments particularly useful in the cleaning of shag type rugs or carpets.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved attachment which achieves self cleaning of comblike elements used in unmatting and cleaning of shag type rugs or carpets.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for unmatting and cleaning of shag type rugs or carpets involving two pivoted comblike structures, one of which is effective in one direction of attachment movement to comb and clean a rug or carpet while the other is in an opportune position for cleaning after being deflected to such cleaning position.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner attachment for shag type rugs embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the bottom of the attachment.

The attachment is primarily for use for cleaning of rugs and carpets that have long exposed fibrous material extending in length, for example, one half, three quarters, or one inch and presently referred to in the rug and-carpet business as shag rugs or carpets.

The device illustrated is in the nature of an attachment to existing conventional vacuum cleaners which have a vacuum hose terminating in a conventional connector (not shown) for making a quickly attachable and detachable connection to the internal annular grooved portion A of the tubular connecting portion 108 of body 10. This tubular portion 10 flares outwardly and downwardly and terminates as an elongated vacuum opening 10C within the base portion 10D of generally rectangular construction that incorporates a pair of downwardly extending end legs 10E, 10F which serve as rug or carpet runners and serve to space the vacuum opening 10C as well as the connecting vacuum grooves or channels 10G, 10H an appreciable distance above the surface of the rug or carpet (not shown) upon which such runners 10E, 10F rest.

Flat portions 10.], 10K of the base on opposite sides of opening 10C and connecting vacuum channels 10G, 10H have loosely pivotally mounted thereon a pair of rods 11 and 12 respectively using three spaced hasplilte elements 14, 15 respectively which are secured to corresponding flat portions 10.], 10K.

Each of these pivoted rods or shafts ll, 12 have extending therefrom a series of spaced aligned rod stubs 11A, 12A in the nature of comblike teeth as well as three spaced aligned rod stubs 11B, 123 which extend in a direction perpendicular to the other corresponding teeth 11A, 12A.

The comblike rods 11A, 12A are staggered relative to each other, and such condition is maintained because as seen, some of hasp elements 14 and 15 are be tween projecting rod stubs 11A, 11B and correspondingly 12A, 12B, and thus serve to prevent any substantial longitudinal movement of the rods or shafts l1, 12.

In operation, the attachment connected to vacuum apparatus rests on the rug or carpet and is move backward and forward as in conventional vacuuming operations. In the forward movement of the attachment, the rug is efiectively combed by the comb elements 11A with the rod elements lllB contacting the base flat surface 101. During this forward movement the comb elements 12A initially in a downwardly extending direction are deflected in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 and ultimately contact the flat portion 10K which serves as a stop, the comb elements 12A being maintained in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 as a result of contact of the three stubs 128 with the rug or carpet during such assumed forward movement in which the other series of comb elements lllA are maintained in rug or carpet engaging position as a result of the three stubs 11B contacting the flat surface 101. When as described above the comb elements 12A are in their dotted line retracted position in FIG. 2 the ends of such elements lie above the vacuum channel in an opportune position for cleaning or removal of any fibres or other materials which may have become attached to elements 12A. During movement of the attachment in the opposite, i.e., reverse, direction, the position of comb elements 11A, 12A are reversed with the elements 12A now combing or cleaning the rug or carpet and elements 11A being in opportune position for cleaning where the applied vacuum forces are believed to be largest.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner device of the character described including a generally hollow body having an opening portion for fitting to a vacuum line; means on said body and extending downwardly therefrom for contacting a rug or carpet; a single means pivoted on said body and pivotable thereon for pivoted movement from one position thereon to a second position thereon; the last-mentioned means having extending therefrom spaced comblike elements for contacting said rug or carpet to comb said rug or carpet in one position of said pivoted means; cooperating stop means acting between said single pivoted means and said body and limiting pivotal movement of said pivoted means to said one position when said body is being moved in one direction to comb said rug or carpet by said comblike elements; when said body is being moved in the opposite direction, said single means is pivoted to said second position by engagement of said comblike elements and said cooperating stop means with said rug or carpet wherein said comblike elements move into engagement with said body and stop further pivotal movement; said comblike elements in said second position being in a position wherein said comblike elements extend into said body vacuum opening to which vacuum is applied to subject said comblike elements to vacuum to clean the same.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which a second like pivoted means is pivoted on said body; the first mentioned pivoted means and said second pivoted means includes two parallel extending and spaced rods independently pivotally mounted such that when the device is moved in said one direction in contact with the carpet or rug the comblike elements of one of said rods combs said carpet or rug and the comblike elements of the other rod extend into said body vacuum opening and that when the device is moved in the opposite direction the comblike elements of said other rod combs said carpet or rug and the comblike elements of said one rod extend to said vacuum opening.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cooperating stop means includes a projection on said single pivoted means engageable with said body.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said opening portion is defined by a tubular portion communicating with a flared opening and said flared opening communicates with a generally rectangular open portion in the base of said body and said comblike elements project into said rectangular portion in open said second position of said pivoted means. 

1. A vacuum cleaner device of the character described including a generally hollow body having an opening portion for fitting to a vacuum line; means on said body and extending downwardly therefrom for contacting a rug or carpet; a single means pivoted on said body and pivotable thereon for pivoted movement from one position thereon to a second position thereon; the last-mentioned means having extending therefrom spaced comblike elements for contacting said rug or carpet to comb said rug or carpet in one position of said pivoted means; cooperating stop means acting between said single pivoted means and said body and limiting pivotal movement of said pivoted means to said one position when said body is being moved in one direction to comb said rug or carpet by said comblike elements; when said body is being moved in the opposite direction, said single means is pivoted to said second position by engagement of said comblike elements and said cooperating stop means with said rug or carpet wherein said comblike elements move into engagement with said body and stop further pivotal movement; said comblike elements in said second position being in a position wherein said comblike elements extend into said body vacuum opening to which vacuum is applied to subject said comblike elements to vacuum to clean the same.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which a second like pivoted means is pivoted on said body; the first mentioned pivoted means and said second pivoted means includes two parallel extending and spaced rods independently pivotally mounted such that when the device is moved in said one direction in contact with the carpet or rug the comblike elements of one of said rods combs said carpet or rug and the comblike elements of the other rod extend into said body vacuum opening and that when the device is moved in the opposite direction the comblike elements of said other rod combs said carpet or rug and the comblike elements of said one rod extend to said vacuum opening.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the cooperating stop means includes a projection on said single pivoted means engageable with said body.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said opening portion is defined by a tubular portion communicating with a flared opening and said flared opening communicates with a generally rectangular open portion in the base of said body and said comblike elements project into said rectangular portion in open said second position of said pivoted means. 